Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots stayed put at third overall, and their future franchise quarterback fell right to them.
The Patriots selected their new quarterback: former UNC product Drake Maye.
“[Jerod Mayo] raved about [Drake Maye] when we talked today,” said NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe on Wednesday evening via Patriots on CLNS. “He talked about how smart he is, how competitive he is… And the last thing he said was the upside… and he said he’s the type of guy who can be a franchise cornerstone.”
Furthermore, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston reported Thursday morning that the team would select Drake Maye as third overall, baring an unexpected trade offer.
There were several rumors that the Patriots would trade out of their third overall selection, but they held onto the pick, making Maye the third QB taken in the first round of the 2024 draft.
Over the past month, Daniels, the Washington Commanders’ main target at No. 2 overall, has gained much traction. So, with the second overall pick, the Commanders picked the former LSU quarterback.
Drake Maye possesses the athletic ability to scramble out of the pocket when needed, and when paired with his impressive arm strength, he can throw the ball with much velocity on the run. Maye has also shown the ability to be accurate on all levels (underneath, intermediate, and deep) of the field and to operate in structure.
The 21-year-old started the last two seasons at UNC. He threw for 62 touchdowns over his final two years and showcased his raw talent.
One flaw with Drake Maye is that he isn’t as pro-ready as some of the other quarterbacks and will likely sit behind veteran backup backup Jacoby Brissett.
The Patriots, who went 4-13 last season and missed the playoffs for a second-straight season, have returning backup Bailey Zappe and starter Jacoby Brissett. It’s unclear what Zappe’s role will be with the Patriots as we enter the second half of the off-season.
Drake Maye joins Mac Jones (2021) and Drew Bledose (1993) as the only quarterbacks the Patriots have drafted in the first round.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
